DES MOINES – Civilian federal workers in Iowa who have been furloughed as a result of a shutdown of the federal government may be eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits while they are out of work.

Iowa Workforce Development has information posted on its website related to the furloughs, including what is required to file a claim. Furloughed federal workers should file their claims online at www.iowaworkforcedevelopment.gov by clicking on "Apply for Unemployment" on the homepage.

Unlike most claimants, the federal workers are “job attached,” which means they will not be required to conduct a job search during their furlough.

Current claimants will continue to be paid regardless of the government shutdown.